Grand Marais city councilors approved three conditional use permits (CUPs) at the board’s March 8 meeting.
The request by Boyd and Karen Blomberg to operate a four-unit lodging facility at 20 W. 2nd St. in Grand Marais was granted. It currently is rented for long-term use but will be converted to short-term vacation rental under the CUP.
Justin and Colette Mueller purchased a house on February 9 which is located at 9 Eighth Ave. West. They applied for a CUP, asking to change the use from family home to short-term vacation rental, “and have space for (our) family to stay when they visit,” the Muellers wrote in their application.
Bruce Block, representing Building Blocks LLC, recently purchased Gofer Cabins and requested to add 12 units of housing to the 16-lot mobile home park, campground, and nine rental cabins. He has also renamed Gofer Cabins Village North.
In his CUP application Block explained, “Everyone is aware of the need for low income/workforce housing in Grand Marais. This property is uniquely situated to provide such, and with biking and walking distance to business.” Block also promised to clean up the property.
City Administrator Mike Roth gave an update on the most current plans and summary costs for the Public Works facility. Last month council learned that the estimated $4.8 million cost did not include $100,000 for in-floor heat, nor the design fee for LHB, or any contingency that council may want to set aside for unanticipated changes.
But Roth had some better news at this meeting. A projected $350,000 add-on for the foundation was pared back, he said, due to a design change. The additional cost to the building foundation occurred after it was learned McGough might have to dig and blast rock down 12 feet to find level ground. Digging, blasting, backfill, labor, and costs to place support walls in the ground brought the tally to $350,000.
Following a meeting with McGough, LHB, and engineers who prepared the soil report, Roth said that McGough had found an acceptable risk/cost balance in their new recommendation for the foundation, which will cut about $252,000 from the previous $350,000 figure.
Bids have been let for two long-lead time subcontracts, said Roth. One for structural steel and the other for pre-cast concrete. Council will review the awards at their March 29 meeting.
Leave a Reply